Patent US5771273A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5771273A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Network accessed personal secretary
Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc
•
Filing: 1996-02-05
•
Granted: 1998-06-23
•
Expires: 2016-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A method and system is disclosed for accessing a remote personalized secretarial platform that permits a wide variety of functions with high flexibility, while being easily usable by an individual telephone subscriber. The platform can be accessed whenever the subscriber telephone is off-hook through a voice recognition monitor that monitors the subscriber line and is responsive to a preselected utterance to generate an access signal. Placed at the telephone switch facility, a monitor module is speech responsive individually to a plurality of lines that are off hook to generate signals that effect switch functions including bridging to the platform and modifying a subscriber switch feature profile.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander I. McAllister
- 👤 Laird Wise
- 👤 James E. Curry
- 👤 Robert D. Farris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 02:30
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/42204; H04M3/50; H04M3/527; H04M2201/00; H04M2201/40; H04M2207/00; H04M2207/12; H04M3/38; H04M3/382; H04M3/42314; H04M3/42323; H04M3/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
In a public switched telephone network comprising a plurality of subscriber telephone lines, each coupled to an associated telephone switching facility, the improvement comprising: a processor coupled to said network; a voice recognition monitor coupled to one of said subscriber telephone lines for signaling to the telephone switching facility in response to recognition of a predetermined utterance whenever said one subscriber line is in an off-hook state; bridging means in said telephone switching facility for bridging said one subscriber line to said processor in response to receipt of signals from said voice recognition monitor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
In a public switched telephone network comprising a plurality of subscriber telephone lines, each coupled to an associated telephone switching facility, the improvement comprising: a processor coupled to said network; a voice recognition monitor coupled to one of said subscriber telephone lines for signaling to the telephone switching facility in response to recognition of a predetermined utterance whenever said one subscriber line is in an off-hook state; bridging means in said telephone switching facility for bridging said one subscriber line to said processor in response to receipt of signals from said voice recognition monitor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
134 words
In a public switched telephone network comprising a plurality of subscriber telephone lines, each coupled to an associated telephone switching facility, the improvement comprising: a processor coupled to said network; a voice recognition monitor coupled to one of said subscriber telephone lines for signaling to the telephone switching facility in response to recognition of a predetermined utterance when said one subscriber line is in an off-hook state; bridging means in said telephone switching facility for bridging said one subscriber line to said processor in response to receipt of signals from said voice recognition monitor; wherein said voice recognition monitor is coupled to said one line between subscriber location and telephone switching facility and is connected to said switching facility by a data link for transmitting data signals from said monitor to said switching facility.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
134 words
In a public switched telephone network comprising a plurality of subscriber telephone lines, each coupled to an associated telephone switching facility, the improvement comprising: a processor coupled to said network; a voice recognition monitor coupled to one of said subscriber telephone lines for signaling to the telephone switching facility in response to recognition of a predetermined utterance when said one subscriber line is in an off-hook state; bridging means in said telephone switching facility for bridging said one subscriber line to said processor in response to receipt of signals from said voice recognition monitor; wherein said voice recognition monitor is coupled to said one line between subscriber location and telephone switching facility and is connected to said switching facility by a data link for transmitting data signals from said monitor to said switching facility.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A network as recited in claim 1, wherein said voice recognition monitor is connected to a main distribution frame at said switching facility and is adapted to monitor a plurality of said lines.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A network as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor comprises a platform having storage means associated with a plurality of subscriber lines.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A network as recited in claim 4, wherein said processor includes scheduling means for maintaining a calendar of events.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A network as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor includes dial out means for initiating a switching facility to connect said one subscriber line to a remote subscriber line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A network as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor comprises 3-way call set-up means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A network as recited in claim 4, wherein said processor comprises voice interactive response means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A network as recited in claim 8, wherein said processor includes message storage means for storing messages associated with respective subscribers in any of a plurality of formats.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A network as recited in claim 8, wherein said processor comprises text to speech conversion means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A network as recited in claim 3, wherein said switching facility comprises an administrative module and said voice recognition monitor includes a processor coupled by a data link to said administrative module.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
A network as recited in claim 11, wherein said processor included in said voice recognition monitor is responsive to recognition of speech on said one subscriber line to modify a subscriber profile stored at said switching facility prior to said one subscriber line attaining an on-hook state.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a public switched telephone network comprising a plurality of subscriber telephone lines, each coupled to an associated telephone switching facility, the improvement comprising: a processor coupled to said network; a voice recognition monitor coupled to one of said subscriber telephone lines for signaling to the telephone switching facility in response to recognition of a predetermined utterance whenever said one subscriber line is in an off-hook state; means responsive to receipt of signals from said voice recognition monitor for changing a subscriber profile table associated with said one subscriber line that is temporarily stored in said switching facility during an existing phone call.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a public switched telephone network comprising a plurality of subscriber telephone lines, each coupled to an associated telephone switching facility, the improvement comprising: a processor coupled to said network; a voice recognition monitor coupled to one of said subscriber telephone lines for signaling to the telephone switching facility in response to recognition of a predetermined utterance whenever said one subscriber line is in an off-hook state; means responsive to receipt of signals from said voice recognition monitor for changing a subscriber profile table associated with said one subscriber line that is temporarily stored in said switching facility during an existing phone call.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A network as recited in claim 13, wherein said profile table comprises a compilation of switch features available for respective subscriber lines and said table is changed by the addition of at least one new switch feature.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A network as recited in claim 14, wherein said one new switch feature is a conference call feature.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a public switched telephone network comprising a plurality of subscriber telephone lines, each coupled to an associated telephone office switch, a method for accessing a personal secretary service platform, comprising the steps of: monitoring a subscriber line whenever it is in an off-hook state for a predetermined utterance by a user of a telephone connected to said subscriber line; detecting said predetermined utterance; in response to said step of detecting, generating a wake-up signal for accessing the personal secretary service platform; and applying said wake-up signal to said switch to activate a switch function while said subscriber line remains in the off-hook state.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a public switched telephone network comprising a plurality of subscriber telephone lines, each coupled to an associated telephone office switch, a method for accessing a personal secretary service platform, comprising the steps of: monitoring a subscriber line whenever it is in an off-hook state for a predetermined utterance by a user of a telephone connected to said subscriber line; detecting said predetermined utterance; in response to said step of detecting, generating a wake-up signal for accessing the personal secretary service platform; and applying said wake-up signal to said switch to activate a switch function while said subscriber line remains in the off-hook state.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 16, wherein said switch function comprises bridging said subscriber line with a personal secretary platform.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 16, wherein said switch function comprises establishing a three way conference call.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 16, wherein said switch function comprises changing a line translation table that is stored in said switch.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said translation table is changed to add a conference call feature.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 16, wherein said step of generating is responsive to speech originating only at said subscriber line.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising authenticating a caller from a line remote from said subscriber line and wherein said step of generating is responsive to speech originating from said remote line only after occurrence of said authenticating step.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a public switched telephone network including a central office switching system, a subscriber telephone line connected to said central office switching system, a voice recognition monitor associated with said subscriber telephone line, and a secretary service platform associated with said central office switching system, a method comprising the steps of: monitoring said subscriber telephone line for predetermined utterances at all times that said subscriber telephone line is in an off-hook state; detecting one of said predetermined utterances; generating an activation signal in response to said detecting step; and establishing a telephone connection between said secretary service platform and said subscriber telephone line in response to said activation signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a public switched telephone network including a central office switching system, a subscriber telephone line connected to said central office switching system, a voice recognition monitor associated with said subscriber telephone line, and a secretary service platform associated with said central office switching system, a method comprising the steps of: monitoring said subscriber telephone line for predetermined utterances at all times that said subscriber telephone line is in an off-hook state; detecting one of said predetermined utterances; generating an activation signal in response to said detecting step; and establishing a telephone connection between said secretary service platform and said subscriber telephone line in response to said activation signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the monitoring step includes: monitoring said subscriber telephone line for said predetermined utterances during the presence of a dial tone.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the monitoring step includes: monitoring an ongoing call on said subscriber telephone line for said predetermined utterances.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 23, including at least one of following steps: maintaining a calendar; receiving messages; scheduling appointments; and arranging calls to one or more parties.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 23, including the step of: changing a programmed switch feature after a call has been connected to a dialed destination.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
97 words
A public switched telephone network comprising: a central office switching means; a multiservice platform means for performing personal secretary functions; means for monitoring a subscriber telephone line for predetermined utterances whenever said subscriber telephone line is in an off-hook state, said monitoring means including: means for detecting any one of said predetermined utterances, and means for generating an access signal for accessing said multiservice platform means in response to one of said detected utterances; and means for establishing a telephone connection between said multiservice platform means and said subscriber telephone line in response to said access signal.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
97 words
A public switched telephone network comprising: a central office switching means; a multiservice platform means for performing personal secretary functions; means for monitoring a subscriber telephone line for predetermined utterances whenever said subscriber telephone line is in an off-hook state, said monitoring means including: means for detecting any one of said predetermined utterances, and means for generating an access signal for accessing said multiservice platform means in response to one of said detected utterances; and means for establishing a telephone connection between said multiservice platform means and said subscriber telephone line in response to said access signal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The network of claim 28, wherein said personal secretary functions include: maintaining a calendar; receiving messages; scheduling appointments; and arranging conference calls.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The network of claim 28, wherein said multiservice platform is an intelligent peripheral (IP) having resources that are shared for personal secretary functions and other subscriber functions.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network of claim 28, wherein said means for monitoring is located at the subscriber premises.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
The network of claim 31, further comprising: data link means for sending said access signal from said monitor means to said central office switching means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
The network of claim 28, wherein said means for monitoring is located at said central office switching means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The network of claim 28, wherein said means for detecting said predetermined utterances comprises a voice recognition chip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4348550A
Cited
US4969136A
Cited
US4975896A
Cited
US4945570A
Cited
US5181238A
Cited
US5093854A
Cited
US5479491A
Cited
US5131024A
Cited
US5434909A
Cited
US5208848A
Cited
US5315649A
Cited
US5384832A
Cited
US5483579A
Cited
US5430791A
Cited
US5434908A
Cited
US5396542A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-22 | 2001-12-22 | 2002-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-22 | 2005-12-22 | 2006-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-22 | 2009-12-22 | 2010-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |